A pickup truck collided with a train last Tuesday at 11:42 p.m. at the 50 Street crossing in Olds, critically injuring one teenage passenger from Manitoba.
At the time of the accident, the 2002 grey GMC Sierra pickup truck was travelling west on 50 Street.
According to CPR spokesman Kevin Hrysak, the vehicle proceeded around the gate and the passenger side was struck by the oncoming southbound CPR freight train.
"The road crossing is equipped with lights, bells and gates, which were all fully functioning at the time of the crash,î he said.
"The biggest safety message that I can say is that these crossing devices are there for a reason and that is for your safety.î
Hrysak added that the train was going at a mandated track speed of 64 km/h at the time of the accident.
While the RCMP does not know the exact distance the train pushed the truck, they do know it was a considerable distance.
"I would image that once, fairly close or at the collision, the CPR employees would have done their emergency braking system and the whole train would come to a grinding halt,î said Cpl. Wayne Wright, Didsbury RCMP.
Tracks co-owner Kurtis Husted was working at the pub at the time of the accident. Like many of his customers, he went outside to see what had happened.
"The truck went through the light standard at the crossing guard and took out a bench and the guard,î he said.
"The crossing guard was in the Scotia Bank parking lot in front of the truck.î
After the accident, an anonymous tipster called 911 to advise emergency services of the accident. Olds RCMP, Olds Fire Department, and provincial EMS were dispatched to the scene.
The car's three occupants were transported to the Olds hospital, where the front passenger seat occupant, an 18-year-old man from Manitoba, was flown by STARS Air Ambulance to Calgary. He remains in critical condition. The other two occupants ñ a 20-year-old Ontario man and a 20-year-old Edmonton woman ñ sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
There was a brief disruption in CPR service, as the road crossing did not reopen until Wednesday afternoon.
According to the website Operation Lifesaver, CPR reported 46 railway crossing accidents in Alberta in 2011. Five accidents caused fatalities, while four resulted in serious injuries.
"These types of things are obviously extremely hard on our crews as well. This is something they cannot prevent,î said Hrysak.
"We do release them of duty and offer them critical stress counselling, because everybody does take that type of situation differently.î
Olds RCMP continues to investigate the collision with the help of an RCMP collision analyst and the CP Rail Police. The names of the injured from the pickup are being withheld at this time. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor.
